Overshoe



'J.F.BULLARD.

Patented Aug. .1, 18-93.

(No Mod'ql.)

OVBRSHOE.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFI E,

OVERSHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,275, dated August 1, 1893. Application filed April 28, 1893- Serial No. 472.266. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swanton Junction, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubbers, Overshoes, &c.; andIdo declare thefollowingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rubbers, overshoes, and the like of that class provided with some means for excluding snow, slush and the like, and while designed primarily for lumbermen and such folks, it is applicable to ordinary wear; it will be found especially serviceable for school children.

It has for its objects among others to provide an improved rubber or overshoe of this class which shall be automatic in its action, that is, the wearer has simply to place his foot in the rubber. The attachment does the rest. There are no strings or lacings to be drawn up or tied. It is self-adjusting, fitting snugly to the shape of the foot to which it accommodates itself. It is expansible overthe instep; it can be placed on the foot or with drawn much quicker. It possesses other advantages which will make themselves prominent in use.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention in this instance resides in the peculiarities of construction, and the combinations, arrangement and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which--v Figure l is a perspective view of my improved rubber. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the shoe at a point about midway the opening therein.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in which they appear.

My invention is applicable to any form of rubber or overshoe that has a slit or opening at the front; It is here shown as applied to one form in which A designates the rubber or overshoe of that class having a folded portion at the front. B designates't i-e strip in which the fold is made. My improvement may as well however be applied "[0 a rubber in which this strip B is not present. To opposite edges or portions of the piece B are secured in any suitable manner the two parts of the fastening which may be of any desired or well-known character; it is shown in this instance as comprising the portion 0 with its openings 0, and the portion D with its hinged tongue at adapted to any one of the said openings and designed to fold over in the usual way to hold the parts tightly around the ankle.

E is a narrow strip of elastic material, as rubber, which is cemented around the upper edge or mouth of the rubber from the fold or'opening on the one side to the fold or opening upon the other side as shown. In applying this strip it is first expanded to the desired length depending upon the amount of curve required at the mouth or opening of the shoe or rubber, and when in this state of expansion it is cemented around the top outer edge of the mouth or opening of the shoe or rubber from the fold or opening upon one side at the front around the top to the fold or opening on the opposite side at the front. When firmly cemented in its expanded state it is left to dry and contract, and in so doing it curves the edges of the top of the shoe or rubber inward; by this construction the upper edge of the shoe or rubber is normally inclined or bent inward but will expand as the foot is introduced; it does not binder in putting the shoe or rubber on the foot because the foot in passing through the opening or mouth expands the strip E and consequently the sides straighten up as soon as the foot has passed into the shoe and the strip E contracts or assumes its normal position and fits snugly around the ankle and accommodates itself and fits around any bunches, protuberances and hollows, consequently inalzing a snug, tight, yet elastic [it around the ankle and excluding the snow and water. It is automatic and consequently requires no attention on the part of the wearer; it prevents the top of the rubber from Wearing or cutting the leggin or seek; it is simple, very cheap, and durable, and, in practice, has proven most efficient for the purposes for which it is intended.

What is claimed as new is 1. A rubber or overshoe having around. its mouth upon the outside thereof a narrow overlapping automatically contracting elastic strip the upper edge of which is contracted inwardly, said strip terminating at the openlng at the front upon opposite sides of the same and around said opening terminating at the top edge of the upper, as set forth.

2. The herein described method of applyiug a narrow elastic strip to the mouth of a rubber, which consists in expanding the strip to the desired length dependent upon the amount of curve required, and While in this state of expansion cementing the strip to the outer upper edge of the mouth of the rubber and allowing" it to dry and contract to curve the upper ed ge in ward, substantially as sp t eified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. BULLARD.

\Vitnesses:

RIGNEY D. MARVIN, HOMER W. CARWAN. 

